Food and drink festival set for next weekend at Riverfront Park

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A weekend-long food and drink festival highlighting Wilmington’s culinary scene is set to return for its third year.

Feast Wilmington will take place downtown next weekend, featuring three separate events across two days at Riverfront Park. The festival brings together local restaurants, breweries and beverage vendors for a series of tasting experiences.

Festival Director Jessica Maurer said the event is designed to showcase the variety of the area’s food and beverage offerings.

“It’s a festival celebrating all that our culinary scene has to offer here in Wilmington,” Maurer said.

The first event, “Craft and Cuisine,” is scheduled for Saturday and will pair local breweries with restaurants. Each station will offer a coordinated food and drink pairing.

Later Saturday evening, the Pier Party will feature a different group of participating restaurants and chefs, with organizers saying about 25 new vendors will be part of that lineup.

The weekend will conclude Sunday with Brunch Elevated, featuring a mix of sweet and savory dishes along with specialty drinks such as mimosas and Bloody Marys.

Maurer said attendees can purchase tickets for individual events or opt for a weekend pass that includes access to all three.

The festival was recently recognized in a national ranking of food festivals by USA Today, according to organizers.

The event is scheduled to take place outdoors and will be held rain or shine. Organizers said some seating will be available, and attendees are allowed to bring chairs. Parking is expected to be available in nearby decks and on surrounding streets.